Cup and saucer



NQV. 3, 1936. E. c. BELL cu? AND SAUCER Filed July 8, 1955 Patented Nov. 3, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application July 8,

1935, Serial No. 30,341

- in Great Britain December 8, 1934 1 Claim.

This invention relates to cups and saucers, and more particularly to a combination set which comprises a cup and a saucer.

The disadvantage associated with' certain 5 known types of cups and saucers is that, if pressure be applied to the rim of the saucer the saucer tilts with the result that the contents of a cup positioned thereon are spilt, and in certain cases the cup itself is damaged. Should some of the liquid in the cup become spilt and collect in the saucer around the bottom of the cup, when the cup is lifted from the saucer dripping occurs. It is also conceivable that the cup and its contents may be upset and spilt independently of the saucer.

There have been numerous proposals for locating a cup on a saucer so as to prevent relative lateral movement, which proposals have included a construction wherein the cup is formed or provided on its body portion with a rib or other suitable circumferential member or portion so arranged and shaped that liquid flowing down the outside of the cup will fall directly from such circumferential flange, rib or other member or portion clear of the base of the cup, and wherein the saucer is provided with a raised central portion which is recessed for the reception of the base of the cup and having its outer wall sloping downwardly towards the lower surrounding part of the saucer to form a channel near the outer edge of the saucer for the reception of drips from the circumferential flange, rib or other portion of the cup, the central portion of the saucer and the base of the cup being thus kept dry.

In addition it has also been proposed to provide a construction which has supports or rests on a saucer for locating a cup therein, such supports or rests being adapted to receive the body and base of the cup but not to interlock therewith.

The object of the present invention however, is to provide a cheap and efi'lcient construction of a combination of a cup and saucer wherein the cup will not tilt relative to the saucer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction of a cup and saucer, in which the contents of the cup may be spilt without the cup becoming dissociated by falling from the saucer and consequently damaged.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a construction of a cup and saucer wherein the saucer itself will not tilt.

A combination set according to the invention comprises a cup having a circular annular rim provided at a point approximately at the middle of the exterior wall of said cup, and a saucer comprising an annular protuberance, said annular rim on said cup being adapted to engage over and interlock with the said annular protuberance provided on said saucer. 5

According to one embodiment of the invention the saucer has its bottom surface constructed substantially fiat in known manner so as to prevent tilting of the saucer itself as would be the case with the usual form of upturned rim, and in a 10 further modification, if desired, the saucer itself may be provided with a handle to facilitate carrying.

In one form of construction the upper surface of the saucer is provided at its centre with additional locating'means which are adapted to position and hold the bottom surface of the cup, such means being preferably constituted by the central portion of the saucer being shaped to receive the base of the cup. 20

An embodiment of a cup and saucer embodying the invention is hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawing.

A cup a is provided with a handle I) and has around its exterior surface an overhanging lip c. 25 The saucer d is provided with an annular rim e over which the protruding rim 0 of the cup a is adapted to engage as clearly shown. This rim 0 also serves to prevent any of the contents of the cup from running down the side of the cup, such contents running into a channel shaped portion 1 of the saucer d. The saucer d is provided with a handle g to facilitate lifting as the flat surface and edges of the saucer (1 would be awk- 35 ward to lift from a surface, for example, a table or the like; in addition the saucer d is provided with additional locating means comprising a portion h shaped to receive the bottom of the cup a as clearly shown in the accompanying drawing. 40

What is claimed is:-

The combination of a cup, comprising a circular annular undercut rim extending outwardly from the exterior wall of said cup at a point approximately midway of the height of the said wall, 5 with a substantially flat disc-like saucer, comprising an annular protuberance provided on the said saucer, said annular rim on said cup being adapted to engage over and interlock with the said annular protuberance provided on said sau- 50 cer, the interior of said protuberance on said saucer for said cup being shaped to receive the bottom half of said cup in close interfitting engagement.

- EDWARD CHARLES BELL. 

